The case against former Head of the Free State Agriculture Peter Thabethe, former Chief Financial Officer Seipati Sylvia Dlamini, amongst other government officials has been postponed to November 9 to allow two suspects - Mahlomola Mofokeng and Peter Thabethe - to sort out their legal representation. For all the suspects it has been postponed to 30 November. Following their brief appearance before the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Thursday, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, says the matter will on November 30 hopefully be transferred to the High Court. The suspects were arrested by the Hawks in July and August respectively for corruption, fraud, and money laundering of over R244 million related to the project.

Other suspects in the case include Lerato Mngomezulu (39), Disebo Masiteng (59), Mokemane Ndumo (52), Mahlomola Mofokeng (55), and 55-year-old Malikomo Mohapi, who is confirmed to be the sole director of Rekgonne Community Projects - a company which entered into an agreement with the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2014 to implement all projects on behalf of the department for a period of two years.

The Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, previously confirmed to OFM News preliminary investigations into the case indicate financial irregularities and large amounts deposited into Rekgonne Community Projects’ account between January 2012 and December 2016, as well as into some of the suspects' bank accounts.

OFM News previously reported that over R220 million, earmarked for this project to assist upcoming farmers in Vrede, was looted from the province without any intended beneficiaries seeing a single cent.

OFM News